Sectional cornice construction for metal partitions and the like



Mdrch 5, 1935. T v BALCH 1,993,499

' INVENTOR. 77/0//45 l-/C/V ATTORNEYS March 5, 1935. l T. v. IBALCH l 1,993,499

SECTIONAL CORNICE CONSTRUCTION FOR METAL PARTITIONS' AND THE LIKE Filed July 9, 1929 z sheetsAsheet 2 INVnvToR.

ffm/m5 1./ 54.40/ l ATTORN S A w BY y, .62H t@ Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATE SECTIONAL CORNICE CONSTRUCTION FOR METAL PARTITIONS'AND THE LIKE Thomas v. Balch, shaker Heights, ohio, assigner to The E. F. Hauseman Company, Cleveland,

Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application Julyy 9, 1929, serial No. "377,051

12 claims.

This invention relating, as indicated, to metal partitions, has more particular reference to construction where -it is vdesirable to join or splice two 4abutting sheet metal members such as to attain accurate alignment and close contact, while at the same time maintaining effective structural strength, and yet permitting lal ready assembly or disassembly. The utility of such a joint is particularly evident in metal partitions Where a continuous cornice must have a nished appearance together with structural strength to support the wall, and at the same time be made up of standard sections or lengths readily assembled or disassembled in any combination. Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described,V and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description rand the annexed drawings rsetting forth in detail certain structure -embodyingthe invention, such being illustrative however of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed. i

In said annexed drawingsz- Fig. 1 is an isometric View, partly broken away, showing the abutting ends of two `sections of cornice; Figs. 2, `3 and. 4 are isometric viewsof details; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view; and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view.

In its general features, the structure is made up of sections Cl, Cz, mated ltogether in end alignment, the sections being in the form of molding or trim members, yor more usually cornice sections of channel form, and having take-f up and fastening means adapted to form a close strong joint. Extending acrossv from flange to' flange of the sections C1, C2, are bridging members or ties 30., these being secured in any suit' able way, as by welding, molding or riveting., and preferably ther sections have theirlflanges further rebent, as at 2, whereby to form a horiv zontal ledge.y If the. rebent portions 2 be further rebent downwardly or shouldered as at 3, and the ties be correspondingly upturned or shouldered as at 4, engagement of the shoulders 4 of the ties against the downturned portions 3 still further increases the hold against lateral spreading. The tie bars 30 are provided with seats for the engagement of screw-threaded members, and advantageously this may be arranged by a washer seatable in an opening in the tie bar. If the washers be concaved or cupped, a more effective seating may be had, particularly for (Cl. 18S-34) angularly directed screw-threaded fastenings. Thus, the washers may be of generally hemisphericalform'having outturned equators, and with holes between the equatorial portion and the pole. At the joint there is provided a junction member or floating; splice plate 51. This may vary somewhat in form, but advantageously may be of channel section and with the flanges further rebent outwardly. It is convenient to provide holes or cutouts in the web through which a bridge nut 44 may be inserted. EarsV 52 may be pressed up, providing slots to receive screw-threaded members or bolts 53 extending from the tie bars 30.

Directly at the joint is a backing member 41 which provides abutting surfaces laterally, and which may preferably be of channel or bowed form with anges spread out' diagonally and thence foldedl sharply back on themselves. A depression 42 may be provided in the web of such member toreceive the end of a screwthreaded member 43 extending from the bridge nut 44. The latter may advantageously be of channel form, and have its corners removed in order to be more easily insertable in position. With the vbridge nut inserted so as to bear against the under face of the member 51, the screw 43 being set down, will exert a thrust against the expansible bowed abutting member 41.

Although the member 51 may be readily initially inserted, it will be seen that when the screw-threaded members 53 are placed in position from the tie bars thereto, tightening of the bolts serves to spread the outer edges of the splice plate 51 against the members C1, C2, tighteningV therein against the xed tension of the ties 30. By reason also of the angular placement of the screw-threaded members 53, a draw up in both longitudinal and vertical planes is had, and a thrust-like action, which not only tightens the abutting ends in the joint both above and below, but affords a truss-support union. At the same time, with the screw 43 pressing down against the bowed expansible abutment member 41, the extremities thereof are sprung outwardly to occasion an even thrust against the abutting portions of the joint, thereby insuring accuracy of fit as viewedv externally. f

Due to the fact that the splice plate 51 and the abutment member 41 are iiexed and in compression, the joint will not be permanently distorted'by a temporary overload, but even if the overload be such as to slightly spring the joint, it will promptly spring back into position, with accurate alignment, closing the opening tightly. The abutment member 41 serves a further purpose in preventing possible passage of light through any crevice in the completed joint.

It will be seen that the cornice may be provided with a panel receiving recess on its lower face and will serve as a crown and structural support for a partition made up Yof panel members 61, support members 62 and trim members 63. All parts of the splice are coacting, and the upper bridging members may be arranged as desired, as many tie bars 30 being provided as desirable. With these moreover, it will be seen that even if secured by spot welding, the welds are not in tension, but only in shear stress in a longitudinal direction.

Holes may be provided at intervals in the splice plate 51 to correspond with holes in the lower part of the cornice and permit access to the vertical members or posts as desired.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details disclosed, provided the means stated in any of the followingclaims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

1. A hollow sheet metal cornice section of generally channel form with upper outer flanges, means bridging said ilanges, a second similar cornice section in alignment with the first-mentioned section, and a splice-plate joining such sections and secured to said bridging means.

2. A hollow sheet metal cornice section of generally channel form with outer ange portions rebent inwardly, spaced ties bridging such rebent flanges and secured thereto, a second similar cornice section abutted against said firstmentioned section in alignment therewith, and a splice-plate joining such abutting sections and secured to said spaced ties.

3. A hollow sheet metal cornice section of generally channel form with iiange portions rebent inwardly, a similar cornice section abutted to said nist-mentioned section in alignment, and means for maintaining said sections in alignment, said means comprising a generally channel shaped member overlapping the joint, and a screw-threaded member acting against theV web portion of said last-named member to expand its iiange portions in contact with both said cornice sections.

4. A sheet metal molding section abutted to a similar section, and means for aligning such sections and holding them in juxtaposition, said means comprising a splice plate overlapping the joint and diagonally positioned screw-threaded members extending from each of said molding members to said splice plate. y

5. A cornice member of generally channel form having upstanding flange portions which are rebent inwardly and further rebent downwardly, spaced ties having upturned portions to mate such downturned portions and prevent spreading of the upstanding flanges of the cornice member, and means for securing said ties to said cornice member.

6. A cornice member of generally channel form with upstanding flanges rebent inwardly, a similar member abuttednthereto in alignment, a splice plate of channel form overlapping such joint, means to expand the edges of the'iianges of said vsplice plate, and means to secure said cornice members to said splice plate and pull them together, said means comprising diagonally positioned screw-threaded members between said splice plate and each of said cornice members.

y 7. A.' cornice member of generally channel form, a similar member abutting said rst member in alignment, a backing member overlapping the joint and comprising a channel with out spread iianges, each ilange resting against the inside of the aligned cornice member, and means for expanding the outturned flanges of said backing member, said means including a means for exerting pressure against the web portion of said backing member.

8. A cornicememberabutting a similar member in alignment, and means to, preserve the alignment and draw the cornice members together, said means including generally hemispherical washers having outturned equators, holes midway between the equator and the pole of each washer, and screw-threaded members positioned angularly to the plane of the equator and passing through such holes and bearing against such washers. Y

9. Two similar cornice members, each of generally channel form with flange portionsrebent inwardly, abutted in alignment; spaced ties bridging the flanges of each of said cornice members; a splice plate aligned with said cornice members and overlapping the joint; and angularly positioned screw-threaded membersextending from said ties to said splice plate.

10. In sheet metal partition construction, a cornice member of generally channel form with upper outer ilanges, a floating splice member therefor, and a tie member for connecting the flanges of said cornice member, said tie member having an opening in its span for access to a screw threaded member.

11. In sheet metal partition construction, two hollow cornice sections having end edges to abut in alignment; and twor diagonally acting screw threaded means. angularly oriented with respect to each other for drawing the end edges of said sections together. Y

12. In sheet metal partition construction, two hollow cornice sections having end edgesr to abut in alignment; an expansible bowed member bridging the inside of the joint so formed and means pressing thereon for spreading said member and truing all the end edges formingA such joint.

'II-IOMAS V. BALCH. 

